Tour Duration: 16 days (with flight from Addis Ababa to Bahirdar, Aksum to Lalibela, Lalibela to Addis Ababa, Jinka to Addis Ababa)
Day: 1 Sightseeing of Addis Ababa
Arrive in Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel. City tour in Addis national museum (home of Lucy, hominid skeleton dating back 3.2 million years) ethnographic museum, the panoramic view point of Addis and Entoto museum. Finally drive to Merkato which is one of the biggest markets in Africa.
Overnight: hotel
Day: 2 Bahir Dar (Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls)
In the morning fly to Bahir Dar. Take a boat trip on Lake Tana to explore the monasteries hidden on the shores and islands of Lake Tana. In the afternoon depart out of town to the Blue Nile Falls locally known by (Tis Isat water fall) means the smoking water and easy hike on the surroundings. And then drive back to the town of Bahir Dar and visit Bezawit palace on the Hill. It was the former palace of the late emperor Ethiopia Haile Selassie.
Overnight: hotel/resort
Day 3: Bahir Dar – Sightseeing of the former capital, Gondar
In the morning, drive Bahir Dar north to Gondar. Visit the sites of Gondar, including the Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings. Additionally, visit Fasilidas’s Pool, still used for Timket celebrations still today and Debre Birhan Selassie church with the most famous religious mural paintings in Ethiopia.
Overnight: hotel/resort/lodge
Day: 4 Gondar – Simien mountains national park
Early in the morning, depart for the stunning Simien Mountains National Park. The jagged mountains and deep valleys lend spectacular views to these mountains, home to many of the endemic animal species of Ethiopia including the Chelada baboon (guaranteed to be seen) as well as the rare Walia ibex and Ethiopian wolf. Afternoon, trek in the most dramatic sceneries of the park along the escarpment and the mountain chains.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
Day 5: Full day Exploring the Simien mountains national park
Full day in the Simien mountains. After breakfast we will start our expedition to the majestic Mountains, breathtaking views, hidden waterfalls and mysterious valleys-here are the richness of the mountains of Simien. Here you can meet many species of animals, the most famous the endemic Galada Baboon (the bleeding-heart baboon). Trek to Jinbar waterfall that forms a 500-meter fall and enjoy the bird life hovering above your head.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
Day 6: Simien mountains – Aksum
After breakfast, continue to Aksum, enjoying the final views of the Simien Mountains. After stopping for coffee on the way, proceed driving through the Tekeze Valley to Aksum, Ethiopia’s most ancient city and former the capital of the great Aksumite kingdom, the home Queen of Sheba, and the Ark of the Covenant. You’ll have time to walk around the old town.
Overnight: hotel
Day 7: Exploring the ancient city of Aksum
Full day visit the sites of Aksum including the famous obelisks, the Queen of Sheba’s palace and the King Bazen’s tomb. You will also visit the St. Mary of Zion church, according to local Ethiopian tradition. Here is where the Ark of the Covenant is kept, only men are allowed to enter the old church. No one except chosen guardian monk is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept.
Overnight: hotel
Day 8: The rock hewn churches of Lalibela
Take a flight to Lalibela, the most famous of all of the Ethiopian historical sites. After lunch, begin to explore the 11 rock-hewn churches of the remarkable king Lalibela, visiting the Northwestern Cluster of churches – Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Maryam, Bete Meskel, Bete Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
Day 9: Yimrehane Kirstos – Lalibela
After breakfast, trip to visit the church of Yimrehane Kirstos. The most popular of the churches outside of Lalibela, this church is built in the late-Axumite style, with layers of wood and granite, set in the entrance to a large cavern. After the visit, return back Lalibela and lunch.
In the afternoon, visit the Southeastern Cluster of churches – Bete Gabriel-Rufael, Bete Merkorios, Bete Amanuel, and Bete Abba Libanos. Finally, visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis, a huge monolithic church in the shape of a cross constructed in honor of St. George, the patron saint of Ethiopia.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
Day 10: Lalibela – Addis Ababa – Hawassa
After breakfast transfer to Lalibela airport and fly back to Addis. Upon arrival Depart south from Addis via the Great Rift Valley, stopping on the way at Lake Ziway to visit the bountiful birdlife on the shores of the lake. Continue your journey to Hawassa to overnight
Overnight: hotel/lodge
Day 11: Lake Awassa – Arba Minch
In the morning, visit the fish market on Lake Awassa, and then continue driving to Arba Minch. On the way, ascend into the Guge Mountains to visit the Dorze people, who are known for their tall elephant face like houses and their fine cotton weaving. Market days in Dorze village are Mondays and Thursdays and in Chencha on Tuesdays and Saturdays. After the visit, continue to Arba Minch for overnight
Overnight:hotel/lodge
Day 12: Arbaminch – Konso – Turmi
After breakfast, In the morning take a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the crocodile market and hippopotamus. After the visit, drive to Turmi via Konso. Stop in Konso and visit one of the villages. Note, Konso is the late recorded UNESCO world heritage site of Ethiopia. The peoples are known for the terraces that they make and strong community who work hard and protect the land from erosion and have a special kind of social organization, interesting handicrafts and a special architecture. Continue driving Turmi.
Overnight: your hotel/lodge
Day 13: Omorate – Turmi
Morning, drive to Omorate and cross the Omo River by local boat to visit the Dasennech tribe (also known as Galeb tribe). Return to Turmi and in the afternoon, visit Hamer village. As harvest was good this year, there is a chance to visit a bull jumping ceremony. At night, see the traditional night dancing of the Hamer people, known as Evangadi.
Overnight: your hotel/lodge
Day 14: Turmi – Karo – Jinka
After visit drive to Karo. The karo tribe is very famous by their elaborate body decoration. They use many colors made from different type of soils. After your visit drive to Dimeka for the local market visit. This is one of the colorful markets in the South Omo and is visited by neighborhood Hamer, Benna, and Tsemai tribes. Afterwards, continue driving to Jinka.
Overnight: your hotel/lodge
Day 15: Jinka-Mursi-Jinka
On this day you will drive to one of Ethiopia’s national parks called Mago to see Mursi tribe. The women’s of Mursi are known by wearing clay made lip plate on their lower part of their lip. The bigger lip plate she had makes her more beautiful and acceptable by the community. Afternoon visit the museum and walk through the villages of Ari people.
Overnight: your hotel/lodge
Day 16: Jinka – Addis Ababa
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. In the afternoon visit Merkato, one of the largest open markets in Africa and walk around the old town.
In the evening, farewell party with cultural dinner and traditional special buffet and local drinks to experience Ethiopia’s cultural meals and drinks. After farewell dinner, transfer your hotel
End of tour
